Chris Birchall walks along Redondo Beach near his Los Angeles home without meriting a second glance. It is a long way from the Stoke suburb of Burslem and his early playing days with Port Vale.
He now lives in the city which thrives on celebrity. Yet despite playing for its football team, he would probably struggle to make a Z-list bash in a West Hollywood club on a Monday evening.
Not that he cares. Birchall prefers quiet nights and life overlooking the Pacific Ocean with his young family - an existence which could not be more different to that of the world's most famous footballer.
But in Seattle on Sunday night, the lesser-known Englishman at LA Galaxy will be hoping to play his part alongside David Beckham in the MLS Cup final against Real Salt Lake.
Beckham could end his roller-coaster 2009 Stateside spell in a relative blaze of glory before rejoining AC Milan.
Yet there is no doubt 25-year-old Birchall, who arrived in the summer from Brighton, has played his part in a remarkable second half of the season at the Home Depot Center.
Not bad, considering Galaxy finished second-from-bottom in the league last season.
The first white man to play for Trinidad & Tobago in more than 60 years - his mother was born in Port of Spain - Birchall faced Beckham in the 2006 World Cup with the pair total strangers.
While their careers are incomparable and they live what are completely different lives, Birchall and Beckham have now developed a close bond as two Brits abroad on the west coast of America.
Stafford-born Birchall, who still considers himself English despite playing for the Soca Warriors, said: "I think to myself 'What would I be doing on a Tuesday night in England?' Maybe playing away at some League One ground on a rainy, cold night.
"I do miss that sometimes, in a funny sort of way, though the lifestyle is brilliant here.
"Everyone was telling me when I first came out 'You will love the lifestyle but be careful not to take it too far with the nightlife'.
"But I have my family with me - my little baby boy Ashley, who is six months old, and my girlfriend Lucy.
"I didn't want to come to any other team in the US other than Galaxy. That's because they are one of the biggest teams, with high-profile players like David.
"It was the right club to go to to get noticed and raise my profile. I still have 3½ years on my contract and I'm happy here.
"I didn't think I would settle so quickly but I love it. I have a lovely apartment on the beach. LA is a big place. You don't get bothered too much.
"Obviously, that is not the case for David. There have been a couple of nights when all the team have been out and he has been totally mobbed.
"It was almost scary. He gets so much hassle.
"I am happy to have a quiet life. I don't know how he puts up with all the fuss that surrounds him.
"Any normal person would get aggressive, because some of it is mind-boggling.
"But he is a pleasure to play with and is a real nice guy in general. His performances here have been first-class. He's Man of the Match nearly every game.
"It would be a big loss for the team to be without him.
"I think it would be a relief for him - and for all of us - if he could win the final on Sunday night.
"I know all the arguments about him only playing in the MLS, which is not as strong as the European leagues. And, at the moment, it's not.
"All David can do is play the best he can. Once he gets back to Europe with AC Milan, he can make more of an impact with the England team.
"There is a lot of focus on him in LA and I think it is hard for him. But we do have a few laughs and jokes together. The American banter is different to the English sense of humour, so that may be one reason we have got on quite well.
"We may say things in the dressing room the Americans won't get and vice versa."
Beckham's passion to continue to play for England has meant playing in Italy, something which has hardly gone down well with the locals in the LA suburb of Carson.
Birchall, who has played 36 times for Trinidad and Tobago, added: "I have spoken to him a lot about England and he's very passionate about playing for his country.
"He really, really wants to become England's leading caps holder. He probably would only say that in private but he's so passionate about getting to the World Cup.
"Every time he comes back from international duty he brings a big box of crisps and biscuits, which he cannot buy over here in the States.
"David getting booed for a few games was weird. I think it was a case of the fans getting their point across that they weren't happy about him talking to other teams. But, overall, they love David.
"He did take it to heart but turned the fans around with his performances and they are great with him now."
As for this weekend's showdown at the 67,000-capacity Qwest Field, home of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, Birchall is feeling confident.
Now fully recovered from a virus which kept him out of Galaxy's last game, he said: "I really believe we can do it. Hopefully, I will be selected.
"Me and David have played in central midfield together in some games this season, while in others one of us has been in the centre and the other out wide.
"I hope we can have a special night and be seen as the best football team in the States. It would be great for both of us."